History Main / MakeoverFail

* The heroine of ''{{Film/Rebecca}}'' tries to give herself a makeover to look more glamorous for Maxim - donning a LittleBlackDress from a fashion magazine. While she looks nice, he finds this off-putting because he prefers her natural beauty.

* In the ''Literature/BridgetJones'' series, there were two books where Bridget got down to her goal weight of 116 lbs. from her much maligned 125-138 lbs.; in both instances, it was remarked by people who knew Bridget (and consider her reasonably attractive) that she looked very ill and even remarked about [[BuxomIsBetter how diminished her breasts look]]. Granted even after all this, Bridget still aches to be thin.

* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' has Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup getting hooked on comic books and deciding that to be "real" heroes, they have to emulate the characters from them by becoming "Liberty Belle," "Harmony Bunny," and "Mange," respectively. This coincides with yet another {{Kaiju}} attack on Townsville. When they first hear about it, it takes too long for them to don their new outfits to save the day; the next day, when the monster comes back, they can't get to the city fast enough: Blossom's CoolCar gets stuck in traffic, Bubbles's new method of travel--pogo stick--is incredibly slow--and "Mange only travels in darkness," so Buttercup just sits in the house until nightfall. Finally, on the [[RuleOfThree third]] day the monster visits, they finally get the chance to fight the creature, but insist on using their "new" powers instead of their natural amazing abilities to strike back. Finally, the monster (who's [[TomTheDarkLord named Steve]] and actually a [[AffablyEvil really nice guy]]) [[SuddenlyVoiced starts talking]] and tells the Girls that he's incredibly disappointed in their display. When they protest, he explains that they don't need props, costumes, and gimmicks to be "real" heroes--their own commitment to justice and gifts do that. Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup thank Steve, then promptly kick his behind (which is exactly what he wants--turns out the Kaiju that regularly attack Townsville are [[PunchClockVillain Punch Clock Villains]] who fully ''expect'' the Girls to win and wear their own brutal beatings as a badge of honor among monsterdom).

* In the ''Literature/XWingSeries'', Plourr Illo was a muscular Amazon-type with a shaved head, who sometimes wore a [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DSbFo70W0AAMCd0.jpg headpiece]] that looked like an odd hairdo. A few arcs in, she was revealed to be a princess in exile. Her old nanny fussed over her head, bemoaning the long hair she used to have. Plourr and the Rogues went to her homeworld, where Plourr started letting her hair grow -- and generally, she dressed the same as ever when not in a court function, and she kept her hair [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/File:X-wing_26.jpg short]]. But although this wasn't a terrible change, there was something about the bald aesthetic. Ah well.

* ''ComicBook/ArchieComics2015'' [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructs this]] with the "Lipstick Incident": [[spoiler: Betty is convinced by other girls to impress Archie with her next date with him through this trope. However, this makes Betty hyper-sensitive over her looks and makes Archie very uncomfortable, ultimately leading to an argument over Archie's supposed double standard about him ogling girls with makeup but likes her plain as possible, leading her to slash Archie's face with her lipstick.]]

[[folder:Film]]
* The heroine of ''{{Film/Rebecca}}'' tries to give herself a makeover to look more glamorous for Maxim - donning a LittleBlackDress from a fashion magazine. While she looks nice, he finds this off-putting because he prefers her natural beauty.
* Downplayed in ''Film/NowVoyager'', where the subject is a spinster who has been forced to downplay her own beauty by her abusive mother. The result is that when she gets a glamorous new look, she has no idea how to take all the extra attention and worries that she's trying too hard.

* In a ca. 1968 book from the "Mr. Mugs" series of Canadian school readers, Cathy sees some pretty poodles on TV and gets the idea to make Mr. Mugs, the Old English Sheepdog, look like one. She puts his head fur in curlers and, pleased with the result, she lets Mr. Mugs look at himself in the mirror. He is not pleased. When her brother Pat sees Mr. Mugs looking like a poodle, he gets angry and immediately sets himself and some other boys to washing Mr. Mugs to get the curls out.

* In the ''Literature/XWingSeries'', Plourr Illo was a muscular Amazon-type with a shaved head, who sometimes wore a [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DSbFo70W0AAMCd0.jpg headpiece]] that looked like an odd hairdo. A few arcs in, she was revealed to be a princess in exile. Her old nanny fussed over her head, bemoaning the long hair she used to have. Plourr and the Rogues went to her homeworld, where Plourr started letting her hair grow -- and generally, she dressed the same as ever when not in a court function, and she kept her hair [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/File:X-wing_26.jpg short]]. But although this wasn't a terrible change, there was something about the bald aesthetic. Ah well.

* About half the makeovers in ''Series/AmericasNextTopModel''. There's always going to be a model who gets a makeover she (although after males were allowed into the contest, there were plenty of fails there too) doesn't like. Special note is Cassandra, who was forced to get a Creator/MiaFarrow esque short haircut, despised it and left the show when Tyra wanted to cut it even shorter.
* In the ''[[Series/TheDickVanDykeShow Dick Van Dyke Show]]'' episode "My Blonde Haired Brunette", Laura's friend Millie suggests that bleaching her hair would bring a spark back to her and Rob's relationship. Laura accedes to it, but doesn't like the result, though Millie thinks she looks good. Just then, Rob calls home from work and Laura, suspecting that he's on to something, asks him what he would think if she bleached her hair. He responds negatively. Rob insists on coming home early, having gotten the idea to take Laura out to dinner in order to make up for paying less attention to her. Laura and Millie then scramble to dye Laura's hair back; when Rob comes home, he finds Laura [[spoiler: with her hair [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality half brown, half blonde]].]]

* A good portion of the makeunders in ''Series/SnogMarryAvoid''. When we catch up with the subjects months later, many of them have reverted to their original styles - or a balance between that and what POD gave them.

* In the Colombian Telenovela ''Series/YoSoyBettyLaFea'' ("I am Betty the Ugly"), the titular "Ugly Betty" decides to have a makeover to better reflect her rise in self esteem (which came from having an affair with her handsome boss [[spoiler: who was using her to scam his way to the top of his parents' company]]). However, the antagonists, which consisted of her boss' fiance, her secretary, and the head designer of the firm state the obvious: that she looks even more ridiculous now, and comment on how they feel sorry for her boyfriend that has to put up with her new appearance. She goes back to her more meek appearance when she realizes that they were mocking her behind her back.
* One episode of ''Series/AllInTheFamily'' plays with this trope. Gloria, on a whim, buys herself a brunette wig and has some fun showing it off. Mike finds himself ''extremely'' attracted to her as a brunette and, when the two start getting frisky with each other, asks her to put it back on. Gloria is offended by the fact that he's only showing that much interest in her because of the wig and, refusing to be "the other woman" in her own marriage, [[ExiledToTheCouch sends him to the couch for the night.]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'', Vanellope finds her princess makeover - which she gains after her identity as the true ruler of Sugar Rush is revealed - unnecessary as she prefers her regular clothes and the role of president.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Uglydolls}}'', during the song and MakeoverMontage "All Dolled Up", Mandy insists there's nothing wrong with the Uglydolls and they don't ''need'' to try and conform to the standards the Perfection dolls go through to look nice, but she dresses them up still when they insist. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, this fails to do anything, and ends up spiraling the hopes of the Uglydolls down even further.]]
* Spoofed in the first part of the two-part finale to ''WesternAnimation/CloneHigh''. Joan is given a makeover by Abe, using a ''Fangoria'' {{expy}} as reference, and comes out as a cyborg sexy nurse. Abe likes it, she hates it. Then she's made over by her blind stepfather, with predictable results. Finally [[AlphaBitch Cleo]] steps in, putting her in a slinky dress, fishnets, high heels, teased hair, and heavy makeup. Joan hates this just as much as the others, but Abe goes ''nuts'' for it. Meanwhile, JFK makes Gandhi over in his own preppy style, which is... odd, to say the least. In the second part, JFK claims to prefer Joan in her typical casual getup, although [[UnreliableExpositor he may have been lying to get into her pants]].
* Played with in ''WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}}''. Mulan is made over from head to toe before being presented to the matchmaker, which includes having her hair put up and getting a full face of heavy makeup. Mulan's facial expressions indicate that she is initially taken aback by the change, though she appears to be trying to adjust and when it is ready, seems like she might be satisfied or at least have accepted it as part of her duty to impress the matchmaker. At this point, it is purely a matter of opinion whether the look is a case of SheCleansUpNicely or an UnnecessaryMakeover. After she fails at the meeting with the matchmaker, Mulan sings "Why is my reflection someone I don't know?" She wipes off the makeup and takes down her hair. In effect, the makeover imposed on her is made symbolic of the role that she is expected to play in society and that does not reflect who she is inside.
* In ''WesternAnimation/PocahontasIIJourneyToANewWorld'', Pocahontas tries to better fit in at the English court by wearing a PimpedOutDress and powder to lighten her skin. After escaping from the Tower of London, she decides she'll better represent her culture and her people by appearing in her own clothes with her mother's necklace.
* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheWeekenders'' two {{Alpha Bitch}}es decide to give Tomboy Lor a makeover when they hear a guy likes her. Her friends are creeped out by it since she looks identical to the two of them and at the end, the boy states he prefers Lor as a Tomboy.
* The ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode "Don't Make Me Over" features this twice, once as a one-off joke and once as the main plot. In the one-off joke, Peter, Joe, Cleveland, and Quagmire offer to help Horace spruce up The Drunken Clam to attract more customers. Peter remarks that the work will be faster if they "do a 1980's 'Fixin' Stuff Up!' montage!" A jaunty 80's tune plays as the guys give the bar various improvements...which ends with the Clam [[DIYDisaster looking absolutely horrible]] ("I think we made it ''worse.''"). In the main plot, [[ButtMonkey Meg]] wins a free makeover at the mall which makes her prettier and popular; unfortunately, the fame [[AcquiredSituationalNarcissism goes to her head]], makes her into an AlphaBitch, and ultimately ends with her [[ItMakesSenseInContext losing her virginity to Jimmy Fallon]] on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive.'' That event, plus the realization that "being pretty is too much work," has her back to her original appearance at the episode's end.

* A deconstruction pops up in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheWeekenders'' where two Valley Girls decide to give Tomboy Lor a makeover when they hear a guy likes her. Her friends are creeped out by it since she looks identical to the two of them and at the end, the boy states he prefers Lor as a Tomboy.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hiclipartcom.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Why is my relfection someone I don't know?]]
The intention behind a [[{{Makeover}} makeover]] is to improve or refresh someone's appearance, to help boost their confidence, and perhaps make them more appealing to a third party. But in this particular case, the revamping of his or her image has not fulfilled one or more of these goals. On whatever level, the subject of the makeover is not happy with the result despite reassurances from those around him or her; alternatively, his or her partner, spouse, or someone else who he or she was trying to impress, will not like the new look. Faced with the failure of the makeover, you can expect its recipient to change back to his or her earlier look as soon as this is possible.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

[[folder: Other]]

* In ''The Year Santa Went Modern'', a humorist narrative poem by Richard Armour,[[note]]Published in "Family Circle" in 1963 and adapted into a picture book in 1964[[/note]] Santa Claus, at his foreman elf Slick's instigation to modernize the way he does things, decides to [[spoiler: go on a crash diet]]; Slick uses the opportunity to get the now slim jolly old elf to [[spoiler: have a very stylish business suit sewn for him]], and when this is done, easily convinces him to complete the update to his look [[spoiler: by shaving off his beard.]] But when he sees the result, Santa realizes that the new look is antithetical to what he stands for. He instantly regrets the change [[spoiler: but with only a week left until Christmas, he is compelled to do his rounds that year with a false beard and a pillow under his Santa suit while his beard and belly grow back.]]

Unlike the UnnecessaryMakeover, where the value of the makeover is subject to the judgment of the fan base, this trope occurs when said fail is intended by the author, informed by the person having undergone the makeover, or otherwise made obvious in-universe. Often, a MakeoverFairy will be involved and the subject of the restyling will come to odds with him/her over the change. There may also be debate or conflict with a third party who is/was supportive of the makeover and who ''is'' pleased by it. Compare MakeoverTorment, when a character is given a makeover not consistent with their gender, FemininityFailure, when a more masculine woman tries and fails to look and/or act more feminine, and CosmeticCatastrophe, when a young girl's attempt at a makeover ends in failure. Often involves a BeYourself Aesop.

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[[/folder]]

* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' has Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup getting hooked on comic books and deciding that to be "real" heroes, they have to emulate the characters from them by becoming "Liberty Belle," "Harmony Bunny," and "Mange," respectively. This coincides with yet another {{Kaiju}} attack on Townsville. When they first hear about it, it takes too long for them to don their new outfits to save the day; the next day, when the monster comes back, they can't get to the city fast enough: Blossom's CoolCar gets stuck in traffic, Bubbles's new method of travel--pogo stick--is incredibly slow--and "Mange only travels in darkness," so Buttercup just sits in the house until nightfall). Finally, on the [[RuleOfThree third]] day, they finally get the chance to fight the creature, but insist on using their "new" powers instead of their natural amazing abilities to
strike back. Finally, the monster (who's [[TomTheDarkLord named Steve]] and actually a [[AffablyEvil really nice guy]]) [[SuddenlyVoiced starts talking]] and tells the Girls that he's incredibly disappointed in their display. When they protest, he explains that they don't need props, costumes, and gimmicks to be "real" heroes--their own commitment to justice and gifts do that. Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup thank Steve, then promptly kick his behind (which is exactly what he wants--turns out the Kaiju that regularly attack Townsville are [[PunchClockVillain Punch Clock Villains]] who fully ''expect'' the Girls to win and wear their own brutal beatings as a badge of honor among monsterdom).

* The ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode "Don't Make Me Over" features this twice, once as a one-off joke and once as the main plot.In the one-off joke, Peter, Joe, Cleveland, and Quagmire offer to help Horace spruce up The Drunken Clam to attract more customers. Peter remarks that the work will be faster if they "do a 1980's 'Fixin' Stuff Up!' montage!" A jaunty 80's tune plays as the guys give the bar various improvements...which ends with the Clam [[DIYDisaster looking absolutely horrible]] ("I think we made it ''worse.''"). In the main plot, [[ButtMonkey Meg]] wins a free makeover at the mall which makes her prettier and popular; unfortunately, the fame [[AcquiredSituationalNarcissism goes to her head]], makes her into an AlphaBitch, and ultimately ends with her [[ItMakesSenseInContext losing her virginity to Jimmy Fallon]] on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive.'' That event, plus the realization that "being pretty is too much work," has her back to her original appearance at the episode's end.

The intention behind a [[{{Makeover}} makeover]] is to improve or refresh someone's appearance, to help boost their confidence, and perhaps make them more appealing to a third party. But in our hero's particular case, the revamping of his or her image has not fulfilled one or more of these goals. On whatever level, the subject of the makeover is not happy with the result despite reassurances from those around him or her; alternatively, his or her partner, spouse, or someone else who he or she was trying to impress, will not like the new look. Faced with the failure of the makeover, you can expect our hero to change back to his or her earlier look as soon as this is possible.

Unlike the UnnecessaryMakeover, where the value of the makeover is subject to the judgment of the fan base, this trope occurs when said fail is intended by the author, informed by the person having undergone the makeover, or otherwise made obvious. Often, a MakeoverFairy will be involved and the subject of the restyling will come to odds with him/her over the change. There may also be debate or conflict with a third party who is/was supportive of the makeover and who ''is'' pleased by it. Compare MakeoverTorment, when a character is given a makeover not consistent with their gender, FemininityFailure, when a more masculine woman tries and fails to look and/or act more feminine, and CosmeticCatastrophe, when a young girl's attempt at a makeover ends in failure. Often involves a BeYourself Aesop.

* In the ''Literature/XWingSeries'', Plourr Illo was a muscular Amazon-type with a shaved head, who sometimes wore a [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/File:Hobbie-Cilpar.jpg headpiece]] that looked like an odd hairdo. A few arcs in, she was revealed to be a princess in exile. Her old nanny fussed over her head, bemoaning the long hair she used to have. Plourr and the Rogues went to her homeworld, where Plourr started letting her hair grow -- and generally, she dressed the same as ever when not in a court function, and she kept her hair [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/File:X-wing_26.jpg short]]. But although this wasn't a terrible change, there was something about the bald aesthetic. Ah well.